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Days passed. Nick and Derek fell back into their old patterns. Spending many nights together and their days locked in the work of the Legacy house. To Nick's dismay Kristen had decided to stay on at the house a while longer. Any mention of her returning to the Boston house would put her on defense. Derek suggested dropping it for now, there was enough tension in the house.
A week after Derek's return, Derek and Nick began discussing his newly offered position. Derek had all but decided to take the job. If Nick chose to leave the Legacy, he could come to London and they would buy a flat together. Many ideas were tossed about. Nick would be a great asset to the London Legacy house or he could start his own security business. That thought, seemed to make him the most happy. He would be in his element and still have a relationship with Derek. Derek even suggested a position with Scotland Yard, which of course, the ex-Navy Seal rejected right away. Too stuffy. No decisions were made, no definite plans. They waited for Pendal to return Derek's call.
Evening dinners at the house were quiet and happy most nights now. With their 'secret' out, Nick and Derek relaxed around the people that cared most for them. Kristen was the only one to make any waves, and her comments were ignored, for the most part.
But, underneath it all, the tension was there. What if Kristen's threats of making Derek leave the Legacy were founded? What if her kinship to Pendal gave her the upper hand. Derek had decided that he would defend his relationship to Nick at all costs. Nothing would make him turn the young man away again. He was prepared to step down as Precept, if necessary.
Nick confided in no one. His fears of being abandoned were most prevelant in the night. Even with Derek holding him and reassuring him of his love, the nightmares still came. Over and over again, Julia would die, Karen would betray him and Derek would push him away. He woke up screaming and usually fled the warm embrace of his lover.
Rachel and Alex were at a loss, as to how to help. They tried to console him and reassure him, but he would smile and change the subject. Saying everything was, just fine. They both feared the danger that hid, just below the surface. The one fueled by fear, anger, betrayal and loss. All of which Nick had suffered repeately in his few years. Soon the eruption would happen and no one would be able to stop or control it. They prayed that he would make it back. Back from the edge of insanity and into their waiting arms.
It was a Thursday night and San Fransisco was experiencing one of the worse storms in it's history. The phone lines had been out most of the day and at dusk, the power lines went as well. Nick, Derek and two of the regular guards checked the grounds and the back up generator, making sure everything would survive the storm. Joseph, the night guard, radioed to inform Derek that the ferry would not make another trip out until the storms cleared. Derek didn't understand the call, until Joseph told him that an older man had headed toward the house a few minutes before and he had asked to be informed of the ferry's schedule.
He said nothing to Nick, but headed to the house quickly. When he reached the kitchen he handed Rachel the walkie-talkie and told her to keep in touch with Greg, the other guard. The back up generator had been damanged by the lightning and it wasn't working yet. Greg and Nick were still working on it. He heard the insistant pounding on the front door and takes Rachel's flashlight, heading out to answer it.
It opens before he gets there, a great gust of wind almost blowing the elderly gentleman inward. He stumbles a bit, but manages to get the door closed. Derek steps up, holding a flashlight. "Pendal?"
"Yes, Derek, it's me. The storm took me by surprise." Derek helped him out of his heavy overcoat. The man looked frail, but Derek knew him to be of strong will and determination. He greatly admired the man before him.
"I wasn't expecting you, I thought you'd call."
"I believe, this is a little to important an issue to rely on the phone service." He smiles at Derek who points toward the kitchen.
"Perhaps you're right, our phones have been out most of the day. Would you like some coffee?" Alex comes down the stairs at that moment.
"I'd prefer tea actually."
"A man after my own heart."
Pendal grins and reaches for her arm. "Perhaps you can show an old man the way to the kitchen. I think Derek here, needs to get the power back on."
"Yes, I'll see what I can do." Derek shrugs and smiles at Alex. "Alex, would you mind?"
"No, of course not. This way, Mr. Pendal."
"Oh, please, call me Harry."
Alex grins as the older man squeezes her arm. "Harry."
The pair make it to the kitchen in time to see Nick come through the back door in a job. "Man, it's coming down in buckets out there."
Rachel wraps a towel around him. "Where's Greg?"
"He's still working on the generator. I came in to get the...tool...box. " Nick feezes as he meets Pendal's eyes.
"You're Mr. Boyle, right?" The older man holds out his hand and Nick nods.
"I'm a bit wet, but yes."
"Well young man, I think you better see to that tool box, it's getting cold in here."
Derek steps up and Nick meets his eyes. The tension in Nick's face is frightening. "After your tea, why don't you let Alex show you to a guest room. You can change and there's a fireplace to keep you warm."
"Sounds like a good idea, but get the power on soon. This is no way to run a Legacy house."
Derek raises an eyebrow and Nick steers him in the other direction. "Got to get the toolbox, Derek. Come on." Once they are safely in the utility room Nick corners Derek. "When did he get here?"
"Just a few mintues ago, I'm as surprised as you."
"This is great. What's he doing here?"
Derek sighs and wipes the wet hair from Nick's face. "You know what he's doing here." Nick's mouth is set, his breathing comes harsh through his nose. "Nick, don't. You knew this was coming." When Nick doesn't meet his eyes, Derek grabs his face and makes him. "I need you now, more than ever. Don't fall apart on me."
Nick bows his head and tucks it into Derek's neck. "I just don't want to lose you, that's all."
"You won't. We've discussed this. No matter what happens, we'll be together." A nod and Derek pulls him tight. "Come on, let's see if we can get that damn generator going. 'this is no way to run a house."
Nick laughs at Derek's mocking of Pendal's words and grabs the toolbox. "Let's go boss man."
"Everything will work out Nick, I promise."
***********************************************
Two hours later the generator still isn't working. Nick and Derek are soaked to the skin and decide to call it quits. They both head to seperate showers and change. Alex, Rachel and Kristen are in the living room, discussing the Legacy, Pendal and Derek's decision. Once Nick and Derek finish they both head down and chat for a while.
"Has anyone check on Uncle Harry?" Alex and Rachel look at each other, then to Nick and Derek. Everyone shakes their head.
"I thought he was going to his room for the night." Derek said, his face begining to show signs of worry.
"No, he said he'd come back down and have a bite to eat with us." Kristen added. "I think I'll go up and check on him."
Alex steps up. "I'll go with you."
"Nick go with them, the halls are dark." Nick nods to Derek and grabs a flashlight.
"Let's go ladies." They make spooky ghost noises as they accent the stairs. None of them realize the gravity of the situation until they reach the landing. Alex is the first to feel it. Something strange, cold and dangerous.
"Be quiet you guys." Alex shushes them, but Nick still makes the 'whooooo' noise and Kristen jumps.
"Stop it Nick," Nick bates her.
"Or what? You'll knock me down and stain my pants." Kristen turns to him and glares.
"Just shut up, okay?" Nick's expression turns into fear as his body is lifted and tossed down the stairs. He lands at the bottom and doesn't move.
Derek hurries from the kitchen, hearing the comotion and finds Nick. "Oh my God, what happened?" Alex and Rachel join him. Rachel looks Nick over and smiles as he begins to come to. Derek cradles him close to his body. "Don't move, is anything broken?"
"Yeah, my pride." He looks up to see Kristen, then she turns and heads back up to the stairs. Derek helps him up, checking his body for injuries.
"What happened?" Derek's arm is around his waist and he's lead to a chair.
"I don't know, I was messing with Kristen and then, all of a sudden I'm flying down the staircase." Nick stretches his back, feeling the vertibra pop back into place. "Wow, she packs some punch."
Alex leans forward. "She didn't touch you, Nick."
"Something did." Nick says rubbing his head.
They all turn as they hear Kristen scream up the stairs. Everyone hurries up the stairs. Nick lags just a little behind. Once they find her, they understand why she's screaming. Pendal is suspended from the rod over the door, gasping for air. Derek and Nick help get him down, then Rachel checks him over.
"Derek," Nick pulls him aside. "This noose isn't made to strangle."
Derek takes the rope and looks it over. A flash of light before his eyes and he sways.
/A man, in his early forties is walking along a cliff, before him lies an abyss, behind him a thick jungle, full of danger. The man screams and looks at Derek. 'Help me.'/
"What's going on Derek?"
He meets Nick's eyes. "I'm not sure, but I don't think he did this to himself." He turns to see Pendal being put in bed. "I believe we have an unwelcomed visitor."
ÿÞ
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